Madagascar's maritime sector is the foundation of its national sovereignty. The Société de Manutention des Marchandises Conventionnelles (SMMC) is the strategic institution ensuring its stability. At the helm is Director General Niriko Tsirenge, who since 2018 has refocused the company as a vital and reliable partner for the nation's logistics chain.
Operating inside the port of Toamasina, Madagascar's principal maritime gateway, SMMC is responsible for all non-containerized cargo, including strategic goods like cement, rice, industrial supplies, and vehicles.
In 2024, throughput reached nearly 1.12 million tonnes. This performance is not an end in itself; it reflects the company's core mission of ensuring national food security and supporting industrial development. This reliability is built on the trust of key national partners.
To meet rising expectations for integrity and transparency, the company has embarked on a sweeping good governance agenda. "We are overhauling processes and are in the final stretch of ISO 9001 certification," Mr. Tsirenge said. "This formalises our commitment to quality and traceability. We are also digitising workflows to enhance transparency. The goal is simple: more secure, compliant, and predictable port operations."
Flagship projects are focused on sustainability. SMMC is developing an ecological bulk hopper to reduce dust and cut losses and plans to install solar power to reinforce its sustainability credentials. The company is also an active signatory of the Resilience4Ports (R4P) initiative, aligning with global climate goals. "This is a practical step towards a resilient and green port," Tsirenge emphasized.
This commitment to standards extends to SMMC's people and assets. "Our wealth is our people," Tsirenge stressed. Continuous training in international standards, including the ISPS Code, ensures safety, quality and flexibility. This is being applied at Vohémar, where SMMC assumed port authority responsibilities , focusing on rehabilitating infrastructure and upgrading security to full international compliance.
Equally important is SMMC's role as a convener of stakeholders. Regular coordination meetings with customs, municipal leaders, and the port users aim to ensure smoother trade facilitation. "A port is an ecosystem," Tsirenge explained. "When all actors pull in the same direction, Madagascar becomes a more reliable node in regional supply chains."
SMMC is focused on building this reliability through world-class technical partnerships. Highlighting cooperation with Morocco's Tanger Med, Tsirenge underscored SMMC's credibility. "We are benchmarking against the world's leading port complexes to implement the best standards in Madagascar."
Looking ahead, SMMC remains focused on its role as a stable and reliable institution, essential to the nation's long-term development.
.png)
